1. Students gain an overview of the quantitative research process
2. Students understand the potentials and conditions of use for different research methods
3. Students understand the typical biases which tend to affect quantitative researchers
4. Students know how to design and conduct an own empirical research study
5. Students learn to develop questionnaires and to collect quantitative data via online survey tool.
6. Students practice how quantitative data can be analyzed
7. Students learn to document the entire research process

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

• LO1: Explain the quantitative empirical research process
• LO2: Design and run a quantitative research project
• LO3: Select appropriate research methods to collect and analyze quantitative data and argue about their advantages and disadvantages
• LO4: Present quantitative research findings
• LO5: Document a quantitative research project and rise points of limitations in relation to the research process, applied methods for sampling, data collection and data analysis

The grade is based on following assessment categories (see below for task descriptions)

Group Tasks:

1. Research project (part 1): Developing a survey (20%): Students have to develop a questionnaire in their research groups related to their defined research question(s) (20 points max., 10 points min.)
2. Research project (part 2): Implementing the online questionnaire (20%): Students have to implement an online survey via LimeSurvey. They have to administer the survey with a small pilot sample, Start the data collection and spread the survey to gain a sample of appropriate size. (20 points max., 10 points min.)
3. Research project (part 3): Analyzing the data and presenting the results (20%). Students have to export the collected data from LimeSurvey and import the data into SPSS. They have to analyze the collected data and answer the research question(s) assigned to their group. The findings have to be presented in a group presentation in the last session of the course. (20 points max., 10 points min.)

Individual Tasks:

1. Participating in in-class discussions and group work (10%): Students have to participate actively in the course sessions and in group work as well as in giving feedback to others. Students also have to read the core readings and come prepared for classroom discussions. It is expected that students search for and read additional literature related to the course topics and selected research questions. Participation is only possible if the student is in class. (10 points max., 0 points min.)
2. Seminar paper: Research Process documentation (30%): Students have to document the entire research project short seminar paper. This includes a description of the research process as well as the main findings of the group analysis. The students should include an appropriate argumentation about the selection of chosen methods and tools like in a method and result section of a research paper or Master Thesis. A discussion about difficulties, limitations and shortcomings of the research project should critically reflect the research project and process based on quality criteria of good research practice in quantitative research. (30 points max., 15 points min.)

Related to group work:
If there are identified group problems during the semester there will be an anonymous group evaluation which gives each group member the possibility to rate the individual participation of their colleagues.

Feedback culture:
Feedback includes group feedback during the planning and preparation of the research project (mandatory), at the end of the presentations (mandatory) as well as individual feedback (one-to-one conversation) from the course leader at the end of the course (voluntary).

Synchronization of learning outcomes and assessments:
LO1: Seminar paper + Research project presentation
LO2: Research project (part 1 + 2 + 3)
LO3: Research project (part 1 + 2+ 3) + Seminar paper
LO4: Research project presentation
LO5: Seminar paper